Cutting off inputs is easy to say and hard to do when the crop still looks good, the heat won’t quit, and diesel bills keep climbing. We sit down as the Georgia cotton crop moves quickly toward open bolls and talk through the decisions that matter most right now: when to terminate irrigation, how to judge cutout using nodes above white flower (NAWF), and how to avoid spending money that no longer returns yield. We also put real numbers on the cost of water and explain why refilling the soil moisture profile before you “walk away” can be the difference between confidence and regret.

Then we shift into late-season risks that can sneak up fast. We cover disease timing in bloom, including when to start looking for target spot and why areolate mildew can cause rapid defoliation if conditions stay favorable. We talk leaf wetness, why night irrigation can help both irrigation efficiency and disease management, and how fungicide resistance changes product choices and the value of well-timed applications.

Finally, we get practical about what we’re seeing in the field: surprise plant bug pressure, spider mites thriving in hot and dry weather, and whiteflies reaching extreme levels in some areas. We explain why spray coverage and canopy penetration matter, why drones require extra caution for drift and performance, and how conserving beneficial insects becomes a farm-wide priority once whiteflies are in play. We close with defoliation timing, harvest prep, and key dates for upcoming UGA field days. Subscribe on your favorite platform, share this with a grower who’s making these calls today, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

A rain map can lie to you. One farm gets 2.7 inches with standing water, another a mile away stays dry, and suddenly your irrigation plan, insect pressure, and spray plans all change. We’re coming to you from a busy stretch of the Georgia cotton season with a fresh look at fields around the Plains Experiment Station and an honest check on where the crop sits statewide.

We walk through the latest crop progress numbers, what we’re seeing in fruit retention, and why an “average” crop can still jump to above average fast if the right rains land in the right places. Then we dig into irrigation scheduling reality: sensors that trigger day after day, shallow refills that never rebuild deep moisture, and why supplemental pivots can struggle when the profile is already drained. We also unpack drought monitor questions and water balance, because a dry spring can haunt you even after a wetter July.

From pest management to late-season decisions, the message stays the same: scout and stay timely. Plant bugs have been lighter, stink bugs stay a regular part of producing cotton in Georgia, and whiteflies are building where we expect them and showing up in fringe areas too. We share how to think about chemistry choices so you do not make whiteflies worse, plus a clear update on cotton jassids in 2026, what hopperburn and leaf puckering look like, and how quickly populations can grow in hot, dry weather. We also explain why timely defoliation matters not just for cotton, but for reducing pest carryover and protecting nearby vegetables.

You’ll also meet our new research entomologist, Dr. Alana Jacobson, and hear what questions she’s excited to tackle with emerging pests and extension-driven research. If this helped, subscribe on your favorite podcast app, share it with a grower or consultant, and leave a quick review so more people can find practical cotton production and scouting guidance.

Cotton can look great from the road and still be quietly losing yield in the rows. We sit down with a roundtable of Georgia Extension agents (Savannah Tanner - Emanuel County, Will Brown - Appling County, and Seth McAllister - Terrell County) to compare notes from across the state: where the crop stands after a rocky planting season, how far along fields really are from early square to peak bloom, and what those growth stage differences mean for every decision you make next.

We dig into the calls agents are getting right now, starting with weather-driven challenges like herbicide programs that “fell apart” after leaching rain, and the scramble to keep pigweed, spiderwort, and nutsedge from escaping under the canopy. We also talk cotton pest management in real terms: aphids fading as fungus moves in, plant bug pressure that feels lighter than last year in some areas, stink bug scouting that is about to matter more, and the big question that keeps coming up, cotton jassid. The message is consistent across counties: scout for jassids, but do not stop scouting for everything else.

Then we tackle fertility and plant health problems that can fool even experienced growers. After side-dress applications and sudden downpours, the question becomes whether nutrients leached and if you should reapply. We walk through why yellow cotton is not always nitrogen, how sulfur deficiency can show up fast, and why documenting weak spots now is the best way to solve nematodes, fertility issues, and pest injury while the evidence is still in the field. If you’re looking for practical Georgia cotton advice you can use this week, this conversation is built for that.

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app, share this with a grower or consultant, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What are you seeing in your cotton fields right now?